animamods: (Default)
animamods ([personal profile] animamods) wrote in [community profile] animaechoed2017-03-05 06:14 pm
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PATH QUESTS: Prelude To Adventure

There’s been murmurings starting to stir in Haven; a faint hint of an idea that it may be time to look outside of the walls again. After all, the Rift isn’t causing anyone any trouble; if anything, it’s provided Haven with Scions, people who may be able to bring back hope!

Perhaps that’s why, all around squares and on nearby walls, flyers have gone up, each with different seals for the respective guilds. They all encourage the Scions who read them to report to their respective halls, to accept the tasks listed.

Chivalry:
If rumors are true, that people are preparing to explore beyond the walls again, we ask that the Scions under our banner do their part to prepare people for any dangers. We will gladly offer up our hall and our training yards to help anyone, regardless of Path, hone their combat skills; we do however, ask that someone from the Guild, ideally a Scion, remain with visitors and help instruct them in battle.

Further out, we’ve also heard rumors of strange creatures prowling the Frozen Shore and Salt Step Ranges. It’s possible that the energies of the Rift have summoned a chimera along either area. With its ability to fly, it could easily be a threat for any ship that sails too close. We are putting out a request for a hunting party to be formed and look into the incidents, and if the creature is found, either eliminate it, or drive it from the area. The chimeras are rumored to be capricious, and easily capable of being distracted and lured away from areas travelers may frequent.

Safety for those who may set out on travels is the chiefest concern, and any other threats along the way must be resolved as well; we will reward for any trophies taken from such encounters, and reports filed out.

We’re prepared to offer a fist of gold for those willing to train others in combat, and a pouch of gold for those traveling out to investigate monster sightings. Our Scions may also upgrade their equipment in exchange for these tasks, if they desire.


Diplomacy:
With the possibility of travel ahead, we have decided to update our maps as much as possible. While you are welcome to cross check records in the library, a little field study may also prove beneficial.

In anticipation of this, we’ve enchanted a small spy glass (on loan from the Discovery branch) for Scions to take with them while scouting areas. By pointing the glass at a location, a corresponding map in our archives will be filled out. If you wish, you may take the map with you, but we also ask that you handle the text with care.

We particularly wish to chronicle the Salt Step range for potential overland routes, and currents along them for sea routes. The Frozen Shore presents more of a challenge, but we will reward in silver anyone who wishes to undertake such a task.

We can offer tutoring in enchanting a similar item to do the same as these spy glasses do, or lend one out to you for an extended period of time if you intend to explore further afield. The spell can be permanently inscribed in your record keeping books, if you so wish.


Devoted:
While it is important to prepare supplies for the journeys ahead, one must never neglect the spiritual side of things. We anticipate many people setting out to travel, and as such feel there should be more shrines available for those about to depart. Whether to pray for safe journeys, luck, or a touch of guidance, the opportunities should be available to all.

Our records and travels indicate that shrines and small statues to Pyphy and Pona, the dolphin and otter godlings, are present along parts of the harbor district. We formerly used wells of water by the foot of the shrines to anoint travelers and ward them against storms, and also included small pebble tokens for pilgrims to carry with them for luck.

Unfortunately, many of the shrines near the harbor area are in disrepair, overgrown by plant life, or even have parts lost to the bottom of the harbor. If you could help mend these shrines, whether through new stone or swimming in the harbor to retrieve the lost parts, we’re certain this will go a long way to alerting the gods they haven’t been forgotten, and to extend their blessings.

To those who complete the tasks, we can offer a prayer for safety, and to light incense in your name one whatever journeys you set out on. We can also offer you a small pouch of coppers and silvers from the alms, as thanks for your dedication to the task.


Discovery:
Our researchers have recently developed a new device for sailing! Simply take one of the rune stones we’ve devised, press it against the sail or back of a ship to infuse power and the symbol into a chosen ship, and watch as you effortlessly take off into the waves!

This increases the speed the ship can travel, and if the rudder or sail is locked into place, one can have a constant bearing in whatever direction they will the ship to go. This should be able to ease travel to other places, both in time and in effort.

We’ve just run into a slight hitch, where the boats sometimes… crash at high speeds or get blown apart by too much focused energy on their frames. However! We’re 90% certain that if a Scion uses the item, they should be able to use their own element to help balance out the power surge! You may need to sail the ship around a bit to equalize the power, and we recommend going outside the harbor to test it out, to reduce the chances of crashing into other boats.

You are welcome to keep the item you test out, as long as you report the results back to our guild! (And the item does not explode.)


…The last parenthesis of the document looks like it has been hastily scrawled in.

Orphans/Secrecy:
It seems that not everyone is pleased with the idea of wandering outside. It can be glimpsed here and there, in the form of strange and sinister looking marks scrawled on supplies or the like; casual vandalism, but it causes people to give the marked supplies a wide berth.

The mark itself appears to be a stylized fang or horn that melds into a flame. If questioned, the locals say it’s an old sign meant to signify and warn against corruption, either arcane or mortal. But they also seem convinced it’s from a few isolated and xenophobic malcontents, little else.

Whether someone decides to spread that mark or erase it, however, is another matter entirely.

It's clear some residents wish those marks would vanish, and do their best to scrub the symbols away when they turn up, beseeching others for help. But other locals have darker mutterings; that others should heed these cryptic warnings, and stay insider their own city borders and out of trouble. And that those markers are a reminder of that.

Still for others, they’re busy with trying to manage inventories of items; particularly over in the Guild branches, both humans and more curious races are scrambling to make certain different rune stones, prayer incense, weapons, and other supplies are getting settled. And it seems to be an easy thing, to either lift some of those items, or step in to lend a hand and aid in deliveries.

It’s anyone’s guess as to which may occur more, however.

Wild Card
There's still other tasks to handle in Haven as well, whether it's as new arrivals or Scions becoming settled in the city. Perhaps someone needs help in tending their egg or the creature hatching from it, or running errands that aren't part of the Paths? Either way, there's no shortage of things to do.
juggernut: (Oh no...!)

[personal profile] juggernut 2017-03-09 04:18 am (UTC)(link)
Weird. He was just enjoying the gentle floating for a while, so why did the water suddenly feel so... sticky? He hoped it wasn't another kelp patch. He still felt all slimy from the first one.

But when Chesnaught looked down, it was something more imminently and viscerally unnatural than a gross, slimy set of leaves. And when he saw the tendril of water start to snake up his shell, he practically leapt out of the water.

In fact, the shimmering, translucent green sphere that pinged into being around him did lift him out of the dark water a few inches and seemed to keep its grasp at bay... even though it also left him slowly tumbling inside like a beachball on the surf.

"Uh..."

Chenaught's eyes shot over to catperson's every time he was in a position to meet his gaze, his efforts to right himself seeming a bit more slippery after each iteraction.

"...can you pull a little closer for a second?"
purreptitious: (pic#)

[personal profile] purreptitious 2017-03-09 04:45 am (UTC)(link)
That was odd. Did something spook him somehow? But he acquiesced, smoothing his hands over the wood of the rails, coaxing the ship closer to retrieve the poor creature.

He tipped his head invitingly. All board, now. Then, when he was close enough, he reached out and down to grasp the odd bubble and pull it right on. How he was doing that, he didn't know. It looked like a Protect spell... was the furry one a white mage? That'd be very handy in the coming days.

That just left how to bust the bubble. With a perplexed grunt, he knocked on the shell. Could he breathe in there?
juggernut: (Oh nutshells...)

[personal profile] juggernut 2017-03-11 04:17 am (UTC)(link)
By the time the boat had pulled close, that sturdy-looking barrier looked more like a shimmering bubble- and only moments after tilt-and-tumbling onto the main deck it unceremoniously popped, leaving the armored lug to slide into the aftdeck with a clunk.

Upside-down, he gave a tired nod to his sudden chauffer, and cast a quick gaze to his shoulder to check for his traveling companion... just in time to catch the caterpillar as it tumbled out into his palm.

"Thanks..."

It took him a moment to pull his heart back up from his stomach and push his inner ear right-side-out again. He rattled in his shell as he stumbled back to his feet.

"Was... the water doing something weird, or did I just make a fool of myself?"
purreptitious: (pic#)

[personal profile] purreptitious 2017-03-13 04:31 am (UTC)(link)
A soft sound of realization, and he gestured to the shadow-marked rune stone embedded in the sail of his boat. Thin veins of black and violet seeped from the stone before they disappeared just inches out within the canvas somehow.

But as the veins pulsed, so too did the black water beneath.

Yuki'to shrugged, then, unsure of how to really explain it. Everyone got the stones, right? Or maybe it was the folks in Discovery... wait, what was Chesnaught in? He'd never seen him in the guild house.

Meanwhile, a rather chubby little mink peeked out from his bag and peered at the two of them, giving a squeak.
juggernut: (Whoa!)

[personal profile] juggernut 2017-03-15 06:14 pm (UTC)(link)
"Oh. That was... that was you." Looks like he'd made a fool of himself, after all. Of all the weird magic to use to help the boat... uh... go, or at least that's what he presumed, were black tendrils really the best option? They looked more like... like...

Well, some sort of bad news. Chesnaught brushed himself off and let the caterpillar eagerly scurry back onto his shoulder while he waited for his brain to stop rattling--

Wait, what was that in Catguy's bag?

"You have a Linoone?! I didn't know you were a trainer!"
purreptitious: (pic#)

[personal profile] purreptitious 2017-03-18 03:33 pm (UTC)(link)
He shook his head with a smile, patted the small mink, then gestured once more to Chesnaught.

He pointed to the little creeping caterpillar, then held his hands together like he'd been holding... a ball, maybe? Or some kind of orb. Meanwhile, the mink scrambled up his side the best a little weasel could do, and settled into the cupped hands.

It even gave a little wiggle of jazz-paws, despite it then yawning and curling up in the palms comfortably.
juggernut: (Aside)

[personal profile] juggernut 2017-03-20 01:52 am (UTC)(link)
Okay, so he was in a Pokeball and Yuki'to let him out. Simple enough! Maybe the local Linoones just had a different look about them. He'd heard of some regions like that.

But why did he have to say it all with pantomime?

"...You could just tell me, couldn't you?"
purreptitious: (pic#9551154)

[personal profile] purreptitious 2017-03-21 01:47 am (UTC)(link)
He paused, blushed, and tucked the creature back into the bag to get comfy again. Well, he supposed it was going to happen eventually.

Yuki'to nodded once, but looked away. Despite the answer in the affirmative, not a peep came from the guy.
juggernut: (I got this.)

[personal profile] juggernut 2017-03-23 03:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Poor guy must have been shy. Granted, he was in a new place surrounded by many new faces- and he did seem to be the only catperson present- but if a Pokemon could step up and be a chatterbox what was making this guy hold his tongue?

"Well? What's stoppin' you? B'sides, I really should know your name by now."
purreptitious: (pic#)

[personal profile] purreptitious 2017-03-24 01:29 pm (UTC)(link)
He shrugged awkwardly as the back of his mind recalled a fist slamming against his tightly-locked bedroom door, a woman's voice reminding him that good children stayed quiet, or they didn't come down for dinner that night. How can he be a good person and a good hunter if he was so noisy all the time?

Ignoring the fact that, down the way, a woman was uproariously telling a story to her friend and laughing gleefully, Yuki'to set shaky fingers upon a pocket, and retrieved a slip of paper. It unrolled neatly, revealing an almost shockingly neat calligraphy.

Yuki'to Blaire

He nodded.